September 2012

7
5
Maropeng school visits help
poor learners
SEPTEMBER 2012
7
Olympic gold medal winner
more than just a rower
EDUCATION
Gauteng
bids farewell
to Sister
Bernard
HOUSING
8
GPG League to promote fitness
among officials
FEATURES
SPORT
Sizzling Heritage Month programme for Gauteng
In Brief
R150 in prizes for Tambo
Walk
The City of Ekurhuleni, the Oliver and
Adelaide Tambo Foundation and the O R
Tambo International Airport have called
on members of the public to register for
the second annual Oliver and Adelaide
Tambo Liberation Walk and Run to be
held on Saturday October 6, 2012. Entries
for the 5km and 10 walk and 21 km run
opened on July 30 and are available at
participating sports shops and online at
www.tamboliberationwalk.co.za. The venue
for the race is the Cedar Football Club in
Bonaero Park, Benoni. The top athletes will
each get a slice of R150 000 which has been
put up as prize money.
Joburg the greenest of
them alls
It is official; the City of Johannesburg is
the best in greening in South Africa. The
City was early this month awarded the
Arbour City Award by the Department of
Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries. The City
has, since 2010, planted more than 200 000
trees, developed some 42 community food
gardens and rolled-out outdoor gyms.
WELCOMING
SPRING THE
GAUTENG WAY
… Thousands of performers lined Soweto
streets for the everpopular Gauteng Pale
Ya Rona Carnival,
which aims to celebrate the country’s
heritage while create
jobs and developing
skills in the arts and
craft sector.
Photograph:
Andronica
Nedzamba
From Mofolo to Moretele Park, the Zoo Lake to Magaliesburg; Gauteng
residents threw away their chilly winter garbs to usher in the Heritage
Month in style.
Lerato Mailoane
New Gauteng D-G takes over
Gauteng’s new Director-General, MargaretAnn Diedricks began her duties as the
province’s top civil servant at the beginning
of the month. Diedricks, who has more than
15 years’ experience in the public sector
and academia has promised to ensure that
Gauteng delivers on the mandate given by
the electorate in 2009.
PUBLIC SERVICE MONTH
SEPTEMBER 2012
“DELIVERING QUALITY SERVICES TO THE CITIZENS”
Batho Pele Friday: 14 September 2012
COURTESY, OPENNESS
AND TRANSPARENCY
• We will treat you with courtesy, dignity and respect at all times.
• We will be open and transparent about how we work.
Hotline: 0860 4288364
www.gautengonline.gov.za
If you are a Gauteng resident
and claim to be bored; you are
probably living under a rock.
The province, which is one of
the most visited places in South
Africa – has, from the last week of
August – been a hive of activities
for connoisseurs of all things
cultural and musical.
First was the globallyrecognised Standard Bank Joy
of Jazz, which saw thousands of
music-loving Gauteng residents
flocking to the Newtown Precinct
for an array of jazz concerts. The
event took place from August 23
to 25 August, featuring one of the
most exciting line-ups yet.
As the event also marked the
end Women’s Month, it was fitting
that the crowds were wowed
by the impressive all-female
saxophone band, Sax Summit who played the music of South
African musical great Kippie
Moeketsi.
The star-studded event also
included
trombone
master,
Wycliffe Gordon; Ken Philmore
from Trinidad and Tobago; who is
one of the top steel-drum soloists
in the world.
A week later, music lovers got
the best of South African music
at the fifteenth instalment of the
South African Music Heroes at
Moretele Park in Mamelodi on 1
September. About 23-thousand
music lovers attended the event
regarded as one of the premier
musical shows in the country.
Music icons such as Jonathan
Butler took to the stage and did
not disappoint.
The next day music lovers were
treated to top performances at the
Jazz by the Lake event headlined
by Afro-music sensation, Lira.
However,
performances
by
Vusi Mahlasela and Thandiswa
Mazwai also kept the crowd
begging for more.
The fun was in Soweto a
week late as colourful troupes of
different shapes and sizes paraded
through Mofolo as part of the 8th
annual Pale ya Rona Carnival
which saw some 20 000 people
participating in the event.
Addressing the participants at
the carnival on Sunday, Gauteng
MEC for Sports, Arts, Culture
and Recreation, Lebogang Maile,
said he was encouraged about
the high number of people who
participated in the event.
The
colourful
carnival
departed from Mofolo Park
through Orlando West. In the
past, the event has been a spring
board for many talented people
as it ensured that young people
were equipped with skills in the
creative industry.
Maile said it was important
to increase participation in the
carnival and government planned
to grow it to 50 000 participants in
the next two years.
This
is
in
line
with
government’s strategy to develop
the creative industry to contribute
towards
economic
growth,
job creation and community
development.
Maile noted that popularising
the carnival was needed to grow
the industry in order to transfer
skills “that are important to the
creative industry such as the
costume-making, music, dance
Other events Gauteng residents can
look forward to during September
include:
23 September 2012
– Go West! Concert in the Park,
Coronation Park, Krugersdorp
24 September 2012
– Heritage Day, Maropeng – Cradle of
Humankind
30 September 2012
– Jazz by the River, Dickinson Park,
Vereeniging
and song.
“Secondly, we want to build
social cohesion by creating
activities that give young people
an opportunity to understand
and express their heritage and
cultures,” he added.
“We want to find out what the
public wants from the carnival
and to create a sense of ownership
for the public as this is not only
for the participants but for the
community as a whole,” he added.
Winners of this year’s Carnival
included the Limpopo Province
whose performers were awarded
R50 000 for the Best Provincial
Presentation. Tshwane won R20
000 for the Best Cultural and
Traditional Ensemble and the
West Rand was also awarded R50
000 for being the Overall Winner.
Lerato.mailoane@gauteng.gov.za
Brand new residence for Kagiso Centenarian
A season for renewal
Everything starts in Gauteng.
From new fashion trends to
new technological innovations
– it starts here. And that
should not be hard to believe,
considering that Gauteng is
home to Maropeng – the Cradle
of Humankind – where life for
humanity as we know it began.
It is thus unsurprising that
Gauteng will, in celebrating its
Heritage Day on 24 September
this year, go back to Maropeng.
It is there where once again,
Gauteng communities will
converge in their many cultures
and show their appreciation for
our unity in diversity.
Speaking
about
our
bouquet of cultures, Soweto
streets where in the first
weekend of September turned
into an explosion of sounds
and colours as several thousand
troupes paraded their eyecatching costumes and floats
as part of the annual Pale Ya
Rona Carnival. If you missed this
exciting yearly-do, worry not
as Gauteng News was there to
capture some of the moments
(See page 6). The carnival not
only aims to unite Gauteng
communities, but also create
some much-needed jobs in the
province.
If you are more interested
in job creation, see page 2 and
read about 23-year old Bilaal
Engar’s mission to develop a
Halaal chicken export business
through his family company,
Gauchix. Engar, a BSc IT
graduate and a Gauteng Nama
Phepha (Abbatoir Awards)
winner, is already employing
a number of people in his
Heidelberg-based business.
We also talk to the City
of Johannesburg on their
exciting new campaign, Trash
to Treasure, which involves
fieldworkers going to several
communities
to
educate
residents about the importance
of recycling waste – and the
potential financial benefits
attached.
Amid all the global
economic doom and gloom,
Gauteng residents would be
encouraged to know that
Japanese carmaker, Nissan,
still deems Gauteng a viable
investment destination. We visit
Nissan to chat to them about
their R1-billion investment at
the Rosslyn plant in the Tshwane
Metro. See page 4.
Page seven touches on
all things inspirational, with
Premier Nomvula Mokonyane’s
moving tribute to her mentor
and struggle stalwart; the late
Sister Bernard Ncube. Olympic
gold medallist, Sizwe Ndlovu,
completes the page with his
rags-to-riches tale.
You can send your letters by
fax: 011 355 6245 or e-mail:
letters@gauteng.gov.za
During the first week
of
Women’s
Gauteng
Nomvula
and
Month,
Premier,
Mokonyane,
Housing
MEC,
Ntombi Mekgwe, assured
a 100-year old woman
Motlalepula Moalusi of
Kagiso that the Gauteng
Provincial
(GPG)
Government
would
rebuild
her house. By the end of
the month – their word
had been put into action,
and everything went as
planned.
Mosadiemang Mebalo
Moalusi’s family is one of many
beneficiaries of the GPG’s
Women’s Month programme.
Many stakeholders joined hands
during the launch of the Women
Month’s programme at Kagiso in
Mogale City.
Uvuko Civils, which is owned
by a woman contractor, sponsored
one of the department’s Women’s
Month projects. The company
also participated in the rebuilding
of the seven-roomed home for the
Moalusi family.
The house consists of three
bedrooms; a living room; dining
area; two bathrooms; a dressing
HARD AT WORK … Workers on site busy making sure that the house is completed soon
“In Gauteng we have
several Women’s Month
projects and Mrs Moalusi’s
gift is just one of them”
room attached to the main
bedroom and a garage.
“I was extremely touched
when I came to this house. I
decided not to renovate but
to demolish; that is my social
responsibility. I really want to
plough back and do something
for young kids in Mogale City
as well,” said Rakgadi Tladi of
Uvuko Civils.
The granny lives in Kagiso
with her two disabled daughters,
aged 71 and 61, a 67-year old son
and a 17-year old grandchild,
Kealeboga Moalusi.
The 130 m² house with a wall
fence is built to accommodate
people using wheelchairs and
has a paraplegic toilet. One of
the sponsors, Makole Property
Developments, has committed to
provide the family with furniture.
“In Gauteng we have several
Women’s Month projects and Mrs
Moalusi’s gift is just one of them”,
said Premier Mokonyane at the
Photograph: CDLGH
launch.
“We are here in Mrs Moalusi’s
home to thank her because she
knows very well where women
are coming from. Today we
have women leaders because
of the elderly people like Mrs
Moalusi who fought for women’s
rights. There are many silent
heroes and heroines out there,
we also thank them,” said the
Premier. She also added that
they wouldmake sure that a
will is drawn so that the house
becomes a family home.
mosadiemang.mebalo@gauteng.gov.
za
Heidelberg family determined to capture the poultry market
Exporting to Muslim countries like Mali, Sudan and Somalia is the ultimate goal for
23-year-old Bilaal Engar, the director of Gauchix abattoir. The North West University
BSc IT student told Gauteng News the two-year business has achieved a lot in its short
period of existence.
Vuyo Sabani
Gauchix is a family-owned
poultry business situated at
Spaarwater, Heidelberg. It is
licensed and registered with the
Gauteng Department of Rural
Development and Agriculture
Veterinary Services in 2010.
Last month, Gauchix was
awarded a bronze medal in the
Low Throughput poultry category
in recognition for hard work and
ability to compete against wellestablished abattoirs.
“We are quality-driven. We
are committed to supplying
Halaal-pure, wholesome poultry
products at competitive prices,
free from doubt (and) to the
benefit of the Muslim consumer,
the company, its employees and
suppliers,” said Engar.
He added that the certificate
meant a lot to him and his
family as it recognised emerging
entrepreneurs and “it gives us
footing to enter the market.”
NOT A SPRING CHICKEN … Bilaal Engar at Gauchix processing floor working on skinless chickens the abattoir specialises in. Engar told Gauteng News the Nama Phepha Abattoir Awards gives
emerging entrepreneurs a footing in the market.
Photograph: Vuyo Sabani
The company currently process
skinless chicken but Engar said
they wanted to supply both skinon and skinless chickens in the
future.
He said he slaughtered around
3 000 chickens a week and supplies
four butcheries in different areas
in Lenasia, Heidelberg, Nigel and
Johannesburg.
“We are a 100 percent Halaal
brand that seals in freshness,
quality, traceability and South
African National Halaal Authority
(SANHA) certified,” he said.
Despite that Gauchix is a
family-owned
business,
the
company employment policy is
bias towards employing more
female staffers who currently
“We are quality-driven.
We are committed to
supplying Halaal-pure,
wholesome poultry products
at competitive prices,
free from doubt (and) to
the benefit of the Muslim
consumer, the company, its
employees and suppliers,”
constitute 90 percent of employees.
“This business has got great
potential, I’ve been approached by
some business people from Iran
who requested that I supply them
with chickens. But because I don’t
have capacity to do exports at this
point I had to let that go,” he said.
“The vision I have for this
business is to see it competing
with the big players in the poultry
industry like Early Bird and
Rainbow Chicken and exporting
to countries like Mali, Somalia and
Sudan,” he said.
At last month’s Agri Awards
ceremony, Engar’s mother also
won an award for being the Best
Agri Business Woman of the Year
in Processing.
vuyo.sabani@gauteng.gov.za
SEPTEMBER 2012
CoJ launches its 10 Metro cops per ward initiative
Its turn-around time would be much faster. It will deal with community-based crimes
while putting a face to crime-fighting initiatives. These are some of the things the
City of Johannesburg’s 10 Metro Police per Ward initiative aims to achieve.
Khanya Sigcau and Lenah Lesala
And for Ward 124 (Marshalltown
and the greater part of the CBD)
councillor, Sydney Radebe, this
could not have come at a better
time for his Region F.
He said Region F was faced
with serious challenges of crime.
“We have a problem of crime
here. There are car-hijackings,
building-hijackings and cable
theft. Recently thieves stole a
fence at Forest High School. So
with these metro police wards;
we will be able to combat such
crimes,” said Radebe.
The initiative was launched
last month by the City of
Johannesburg Mayor, Parks Tau,
as part of combating crime in
the dense metropolitan.
Councillor Sello Lemao, the
MMC for Public Safety, said of
the initiative at the launch:
“Through the ten (10)
officers per ward programme,
the city aims to integrate all
law
enforcement
agencies
at a ward level and ensure
thorough engagement with the
communities the city serves.
This is about visible policing
targeting all crimes and by-laws
as well as effective monitoring
and evaluation tools to gauge
the impact.”
According
to
Radebe,
businesses are responding well
to this initiative which has
Standard Bank together and
the Johannesburg Development
Agency (JDA) as some of its
investors.
“There is also a problem of
street vendors that sell drugs.
With our metro police in the
area it was easy to detect this,”
said Radebe.
Members of the community
have different views regarding
this project, while others
commended the initiative others
lamented that police corruption
will rear its ugly head.
“Police are just corrupt; it
won’t help because they will be
asking for money all the time”,
said 28-year-old Thabiso Sibiya.
Meanwhile, Ananius Chauke
said: “It will help eradicate
crime, drug abuse and petty
crimes in the neighbourhood.
This will get rid of the boys that
smoke nyaope (cocktail of drugs
and rat poison).”
Chauke said it was a good
thing that police would be
patrolling the streets for 24
hours-a-day.
As this is still a new project,
the Johannesburg Metro Police
said they could not comment
about its effectiveness or lack
thereof.
khanya.sigcau@gauteng.gov.za and
lenah.lesala@gauteng.gov.za
CRIME FIGHTER: Ward 124 Councillor, Sydney Radebe, is confident that the 10 Metro Police
per Ward initiative will help combat crime in the Joburg CBD.
Photograph: Vuyo Sabani
Residents taught to “cash-in on trash”
RAISING GREEN AWARENESS … A fieldworker from the Trash to Treasure campaign talks to a
resident about recycling..
Photograph: Pikitup
According to the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research
(CSIR), the management of domestic waste in South Africa is
currently facing many real challenges. The majority of this waste
ends up in landfills as mixed waste. However, the study reveals that
through ‘reduce, re-use and recycling’ methods, waste streams to
landfill sites can be minimised.
ADZILIWI NEMATANDANI
In line with that, Pikitup,
in partnership with the City
of Johannesburg (CoJ) has
embarked on a door-to-door
recycling education drive that
will see the community making
some commercial gains out
of their domestic waste while
complying with the City’s waste
management regulations.
Hundreds of field workers
in lime-green T-shirts are going
from door-to-door educating
residents on the upcoming
‘Trash to Treasure’ project,
which is aimed at encouraging
residents to minimise waste
through recycling.
The campaign kicked off in
Zondi, Soweto early this month
and will include areas such
as Diepsloot, Ivory Park and
Orange Farm.
According to Pikitup’s Acting
Managing Director, Lawrence
Boya, the campaign aims to teach
Johannesburg citizens about the
importance of recycling through
the correct disposal of recyclable
items.
Boya said the initiative is part
of the CoJ’s drive geared towards
building a low carbon economy.
He said after the education
campaign, the collection of
the recyclable refuse is set to
commence in areas serviced
by the Pikitup Zondi Depot in
October.
“All collections will take
place on the residents’ normal
weekly refuse collection date,”
added Boya.
He emphasised a need to
instil a change in behaviour in
terms of how the residents view
waste. He said residents have to
understand that the campaign
is part of the metro’s long term
efforts aimed at building a
prosperous, healthy, literate,
safe and socially-inclusive city.
“The ultimate goal is
to cut down dramatically
on the amount of waste
produced overall; where this is
unavoidable, we then need to
recycle as much as possible.
“Recycling, in this instance,
means separating household
waste into three different
receptacles which will be
provided by Pikitup,” said Boya.
The City of Johannesburg
regularly provides households
in informal settlements with
These questions will start a discussion with your child and show that you
are interested in their life at school. This in turn will motivate them to take
their school work seriously.
Workshops to discuss the role that parents can play in supporting children
at school have started and will end in November 2012. Attend a workshop
nearest to you so that you can know what to do to support your child
at school.
In which areas can you help your child perform better?
You can support your child by:
• Checking that they do their homework
• Making sure they arrive at school on time
• Helping them to behave at school
• Visiting your child’s teacher to discuss problems
For more info contact your school principal
or visit www.education.gpg.gov.za and www.mglsg.co.za
for a full schedule of workshops
Call Centre: 0800 005 175
www.education.gpg.gov.za
black refuse bags and a daily
cleansing service, including
waste collection to combat
illegal dumping.
It is expected that the field
workers, known as the ‘Treasure
Team’, will be visiting over 100
000 homes in Soweto.
The education process in
Diepsloot and other areas is
due to start in October with the
project roll-out in November.
TREASURE TEAM … The team of
field workers from the Trash to Treasure
campaign at the launch of their campaign
Photograph: Pikitup
Nissan to create 800 jobs at Rosslyn plant
The current depression in the global economy has not stopped Japanese carmaker, Nissan, from
pumping more foreign direct investment into Gauteng’s growing automotive sector. Recently, the
automaker announced plans to invest about R1 billion at its Rosslyn plant in the Tshwane Metro.
JOB CREATORS … Nissan Motor Limited COO, Toshiyuki Shiga (in the centre) with Nissan
South Africa, Managing Director, Mike Whitfield (right) and Toshitaka Toei, General Manager
Africa, Middle East and Europe announcing plans to increase production at the Nissan Plant in
Rosslyn. Photograph: Andronica Nedzamba
Vuyo Sabani
The move will create around
800 new jobs in a range of skills
required at the plant, from
operators and team leaders to
supervisors and engineers.
“A further 4 000 jobs will be
created in the wider automotive
industry,” said the company.
The announcement by Nissan
SA Managing Director, Mike
Whitfield, last month coincided
with a visit to the South African
operation by the Chief Operating
Officer of Nissan Motor Company
Limited (NML), Toshiyuki Shiga.
Whitfield said the increase
in capacity was a leap towards
supporting the company’s global
business plan, Nissan Power
88, which targets 8% of global
market share and 8% corporate
operating profit by 2016.
Locally, this will see the
South African plant producing
almost 100 000 vehicles annually
by 2016, driven primarily by the
new pickup model. This will
lead to new hiring at the plant
and throughout the automotive
supplier community.
The move by Nissan also
came at the right time in terms of
South Africa’s Automotive and
Production and Development
Progamme (APDP), which is
encouraging the automotive
industry to ramp up total South
African vehicle production to 1.2
million units per annum by 2020.
“The local industry’s APDP,
which encourages individual
manufacturers
to
increase
production levels above 50 000
units per annum, is in tune
with our own ambitions within
this increasingly important
African market, as part of the
wider Nissan Power 88 plan,”
explained Whitfield.
Sales will be driven by a new
1-ton pickup to be produced at
the Rosslyn plant, along with
the current NP200, NP 300
Hardbody, the Nissan Livina
range and the Renault Sandero
under
the
Renault-Nissan
Tool making industry gets a shot in the arm
Hendrik
Janse
van
Reinsburg does not see
the tool-making artisan
apprenticeship as an end in
itself. Rather, the 20-year
old he sees it as a stepping
stone to his lifelong dream
of becoming a professional
mechanical engineer.
Department of Social Development
BURSARIES AND FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR
STUDY PURPOSES – 2013
The Gauteng Department of Social Development will make 20 new bursaries and financial assistance
available to students residing in the Gauteng Province and who wish to study at a recognized/
accredited learning institution within the Province. Financial assistance will be awarded to students that
would enrol for their studies during any level of study.
The purpose of the bursary scheme is to provide financial assistance for the education, training and
skills development of historically disadvantaged South Africans who are considering a career in Social
Work, Youth Development, Community Development, BA Development Studies Honours/Masters
Clinical Psychology and Occupational Therapy professions. The Bursary Policy is committed to
achieving the Employment Equity imperatives within the National Skills Development Strategy and the
Department of Social Development strategic priorities.
The GDSD Bursary Scheme promotes career development within the Social Development professions and
scarce skills. Applicants must demonstrate a willingness to be part of a dedicated and skilled workforce
committed to social development for a better life for the population of Gauteng and all South Africans.
Within the framework of the Department Human Resources Recruitment Policy, the selection of
candidates is based on the following criteria: Preference will be given to●
●
●
●
Youth from orphanages, children’s homes, foster care homes and places of safety within Gauteng Province.
Students that excel academically with at least a C Symbol Aggregate in Matric.
Students that are not currently benefiting from any other bursary scheme
Applicants who wish to study towards areas identified by the department as scarce skills such as
Child and Youth Care, Community Development, Clinical Psychology and Occupational Therapy
Applicants that have been permanent residents within the Gauteng Province for at least one-year
prior to application
Applicants that are South African citizens
●
●
Please Note: All successful applicants will be required to enter into contractual agreements with
the Gauteng Department of Social Development.
Application forms can be obtained from the below mentioned address:
North Rand:
Ekurhuleni:
West Rand:
Johannesburg:
Sedibeng:
(Cnr Pretorius and Andres, Manaka Building) Pretoria
(41 Catlin Street) Germiston
(Cnr Human and Kobie Krige Street) Krugersdorp
(81 Rissik Street) and (75 Commissioner Street)
(Moshoeshoe Street) Sebokeng
OR
75 Commissioner Street, Perm Building, Ground Floor or posted to Private Bag X 35, Johannesburg, 2000.
ENQUIRIES: HRD Unit:Tel. No: (011) 355 7600
Closing Date: 15 OCTOBER 2012
If you do not receive any response from us within 3 months, Please accept that your application
was unsuccessful.
We welcome applications from persons with disAbilities
Vuyo Sabani &
Mikateko Mkhatshwa
Janse van Reinsburg said taking
the apprentice route, instead
of enrolling at university, gave
students an edge over their peers
in the industry.
He attributed this to the firsthand experience they gained
in their practical classes which
include three months on-thejob training at an established
company.
His sentiments were echoed
by fellow student, Tshepo Setshedi
(27) of Benoni, Ekurhuleni, with
whom he has been placed at the
country’s arms manufacturer,
Denel, in Kempton Park.
Setshedi and Janse van
Reinsburg are part of the
250
toolmaking
artisans
apprenticeship students placed in
Alliance.
In addition to the local
production of the new 1-ton
pickup, Whitfield said that an
additional B-segment passenger
vehicle will be launched in South
Africa in the near future.
Talks were also ongoing with
key South African stakeholders
on the rollout of the Nissan LEAF,
which has been successfully
launched in Europe, the USA and
Japan.
“Global markets are pivotal
to Nissan’s growth strategy and
Africa, in particular, is a strategic
region,” said Shiga.
Meanwhile, the Ford Motor
Company South Africa (FMCSA)
also announced last month that
it will create new jobs in the
country with the introduction of
additional shifts at its Silverton
Assembly Plant in Pretoria and
its Struandale Engine Plant in
Nelson Mandela Bay to meet
increased production of its Ford
Rangers.
GDF COMMUNICATIONS / GPG _ 1577
EMPOWERED … Hendrik Janse van Reinsburg and Tshepo Setshedi doing their practicals at the
Denel Apprentice Learnership Centre as part of an initiative to alleviate the shortage of artisans in
the country.
Photograph: Thomas Chauke
various FET Colleges in a bid to
address the debilitating shortage
of artisans and toolmakers in the
country.
The
programme
is
a
partnership
between
the
Department of Trade and Industry
(DTI); Tool Making Association
of South Africa (TASA) and the
Gauteng City-Region Academy
(GCRA).
While delivering her budget
speech in the Gauteng legislature
recently,
former
MEC
for
Economic Development, Qedani
Mahlangu said:
“International experience on
skills development have been
applied successfully in the toolmakers training programme in
South Africa.
“The tooling industry is
recognised as the centre of
manufacturing activities in South
Africa and Gauteng accounts for
60% of the tool-making business
which has an annual procurement
of R12 billion.”
Mahlangu further emphasized
that the country was “way too
reliant on other countries for tool
supplies”.
“The demand for tools is
satisfied by imports from China
and Germany, amongst other
countries.
“This can be attributed to
lack of tool-making artisan skills
supply in South Africa. To reverse
this, we have partnered with the
National Tooling Association
of South Africa (TASA), the
Department of Trade and
Industry (DTI) and the Gauteng
City-Region Academy to train
250 tool-making artisans who are
scheduled to graduate at the end
of 2014,” said Mahlangu.
According
to
Odirile
Ramasodi of the Gauteng
Enterprise Propeller (GEP):
“This is a competency-based
apprenticeship programme that
the average student should be
able to complete in three-to-four
years. At the end of the training
the students will write a trade
test and after which they will be
certified by Quality Council for
Trade and Occupation as artisans
(Toolmaker or Metal Machines).
“The
NTIP/TASA
also
maintains their accreditation
with the USA National Institute
for Metalworking Skips (NIMS),
which credits the students in the
completed NIMS module on an
international level,” explained
Ramasodi.
Ramasodi said the programme
had been a success thus far as
apprenticeship level 2 students
were placed at 75 companies for
their on-the-job-training.
Furthermore, these companies
have indicated that they would
like to employ the students on
full time bases after completion
of their course.
mikateko.mkhatshwa@gauteng.gov.za
SEPTEMBER 2012
In this Heritage Month edition Melitah Madiba speaks to Wayde Davy, the
Deputy Director at the popular Apartheid Museum. The museum, the first of
its kind, illustrates the rise and fall of apartheid in South Africa.
What can you tell us about where
you are from?
I was born in Fietas and although
I lived in Kimberley for a few
years, most of my life was spent
in Joburg. I had a two year stint
in Cape Town but ran back to Jozi
as soon as I could!
president, Nelson Mandela.
What are driving?
Opel Astra
What should young people do if they
want to follow in your footsteps?
Well firstly, they need to have a
love of the arts and culture sector.
Do museum studies at university
level and have a passion for
museums.
What do you like most about living
in Gauteng?
The Vibe! The people! It’s fast
paced and we often work hard.
At the same time you can play
hard as well!
Which is your favourite place in GP
and why?
The Newtown Culture Precinct
because it’s the hub of arts and
culture activities.
Heritage Month will this year
be celebrated under the theme:
“Celebrating Heroes and Heroines
of the Liberation Struggle in South
Africa”. How can Gauteng residents
celebrate the heroes and heroines of
the Liberation Struggle?
By visiting the appropriate
museums such as the Apartheid
Museum,
Mandela
House
Museum,
Hector
Pietersen,
Constitution Hill etc to re-look
at their past and remember the
struggle and hence have a clearer
vision of moving forward.
Who are your role models & why?
Mahatma Ghandi and Mother
Theresa – these people fought
the good fight with humility and
a dignity that you simply don’t
find any longer. And then of
course; Madiba for all the obvious
reasons. But more importantly,
they stood for peace!
What is your favourite food?
Thai
How do you relax from the hurlyburly of city life?
I do yoga, tai-chi and pilates – I
go to the gym five times a week. I
also walk whenever I can. I listen
to music and read. These are the
‘me’ times which I find ultimately
relaxing.
What is your favourite
quote?
“To be free is not
merely to cast off one’s
chains, but to live in
a way that respects
and enhances the
freedom of others.”
Nelson Mandela
Any highlights in your life?
There are many. For example;
the birth of my children
and grandchild and most
importantly; meeting former
What
are
you
currently reading and
what are your top 3
must-read books?
My top three
Top heritage site ploughs back into Gauteng schools
For the third consecutive year the Cradle of Humankind World
Heritage Site Management Authority is running the project to
bring disadvantaged schools to Maropeng and Sterkfontein.
Ten schools will send one hundred learners each, allowing
one thousand learners to have an edutainment experience
that they would not normally be able to afford. This year’s
programme began on 13 August with a visit by Magaliesburg
State School who started out at Sterkfontein.
Maropeng Communications
When they had finished the
tour went on to Maropeng, where
each learner was given a t-shirt
and a lunch pack, supervised
by Mthetheleli (Magic) Dlomo,
from the COHWHS Management
Authority.
The group comprised grade
10 social sciences and tourism
learners and their teachers.
“These kids are curious and
adventurous and I can see that
they are learning a lot here”, their
teacher, Kgomotso Madiba said.
“Many of these children
struggle with subjects like maths
What music do you like? Who are
your favourite artists? What is your
favourite song?
Various, but mostly jazz.
Favourite female – Ella Fitzgerald.
Favourite Male: Jose Feliciano.
If you were a GP Premier for a day,
what would you do to make the
province great?
Ensure that arts and culture is
taught by credible people in all
the schools!
How old are you? Are you married?
Any children?
Old enough to have been married,
divorced and have three children
and one grandchild.
What do you do for a living & what
are the highs and lows?
I work at the Apartheid Museum
as the Deputy Director. It’s
a fascinating job. Part of my
portfolio is the marketing and
public programming at the
Museum which means that the
work is diverse and often very
hectic. I love my job.
books are: The Prophet by Kahlil
Gibran; Life Paint and Passion by
Cassou and Cubley and Poems
by Maya Angelou. I am currently
re-reading Life Paint and Passion.
Gauteng is in my Genes
and English. They come from
difficult circumstances- some of
them have parents who are farm
labourers, some of them are
orphans and many of them live
in an informal settlement with
very harsh conditions. This tour
offers marvellous first-hand
exposure for learners of both
social sciences and tourism.
They don’t often get a chance to
go on such a great outing!”
The
COHWHS
and
Maropeng believe that this is
an important project because
it
demonstrates
that
the
government and the private
sector are willing to show their
support for underprivileged
communities.
“At
the
moment
this
programme concentrates only
on nearby schools. We would
like to see this programme
expand to include schools from
further afield in Gauteng, and
even from other provinces”, said
Dlomo. His colleague, Thulani
Mbonambi, strongly concurred:
“We know this project has
gone from strength to strength
and is developing every year.
Our vision is to reach the stage
when this is an ongoing yearround project. We have to be
realistic and admit that we don’t
currently have the resources
to manage that,” cautioned
Mbonambi.
Magel van der Venter, the
education marketing official
from Maropeng said:
“The
partnership
with
Management Authority and
Gauteng
Department
of
Education means a lot to us. This
If you had a billion rand to spend
on improving Gauteng, what would
you prioritize?
Real
and
sustainable
empowerment programmes for
women and children.
People who wish to visit the museum,
what can they look forward to
learning and experiencing at there?
They can learn about how
apartheid was put into official
policy and how it disengaged
and disempowered the majority
of people in South Africa, how
people struggled against it, were
imprisoned and fought against
this evil and
the eventual
overcom i ng
of
this
oppression. It’s
a story of hope.
It’s told through
various media
such as text
panels,
blown
up photographs,
film
footage,
artefacts,
and
installations.
“At the moment this
programme concentrates
only on nearby schools.
We would like to see
this programme expand
to include schools
from further afield
in Gauteng, and even
from other provinces”
supplies us with the opportunity
to support schools to visit
the Cradle of Humankind,
Maropeng and Sterkfontein
caves that will never under
normal circumstances afford it
to visit the World Heritage Site.
The exhibition is directly link to
the curriculum of South Africa
and is an extended opportunity
to experience the theoretical
work in the classroom in practice
while having loads of fun. I
would like to thank all partners
whom contributed to the success
of these visits.”
For more information, visit
the Maropeng website – www.
maropeng.co.za
Pictures by Mandla Nkosi, Thomas Chauke, Andronica Nedzamba and Khuitse Diseko
HAMBA KAHLE QHAWEKAZI … The late Sister Bernard Ncube’s funeral service was held at the famous Regina Mundi Church in Soweto,
a venue Sister Bernard was quite familiar with as she used to organise many meetings for anti-apartheid activists there.
ON THE BALL … One of the first things newly-appointed Gauteng Director-General, Margaret-Ann
Diedricks, did when she assumed her responsibilities was to address the staff at the Office of the Premier.
CELEBRATING DIVERSITY … The Pale Ya Rona Carnival
once again brought Soweto to a standstill as resident enjoyed the burst of colour after months of winter.
IN LIVING COLOUR ....Haircut by Ihsaan Haffejee
winner of the Capture Gauteng- Entertainment Lifestyle category
SISTERS MOURNING THEIR BROTHERS … Members of the SAPS and the National Union of
Mineworkers shared their pain at the Gauteng Marikana Tragedy Memorial held late last month.
WORLD CLASS ACT FOR A WORLD CLASS
CITY … Internationally-revered musician,
Thandiswa Mazwai’s hot performance at the Jazz
by the Lake Concert made the audience forget
about the icy winter season that has just passed.
BAFANA’S MISSING PLAYMAKER … Sport MEC,
Lebogang Maile, showed off some of his silky skills
on the soccer field at the recent Gauteng Provincial
Government employees’ league – urging government
workers to be active in sporting activities.
SEPTEMBER 2012
A TRIBUTE TO MY MOTHER, SISTER BERNARD NCUBE
Those who feared Sister Bernard Ncube described her as weird, a dangerous radical, terrorist, and abortionist
under the pretext of Catholicism and the veil of Sisterhood. The apartheid regime applied all sorts of
descriptive innuendos on Sister Ncube.
NOMVULA MOKONYANE – GAUTENG PREMIER
Throughout all these, she was
instead my mother, aunt and
sister to my family. She was my
teacher, spiritual tutor, provider,
carer, and everything that
made her more than the above
described public figure. I lived
with her, I shared my innermost
grief with her, I learnt from her,
and I am forever indebted to her
generous maternal spirit that
raised and nurtured me.
I mourn her passing by
thanking and appreciating her
for being a part of my life as a
girl, a woman, an activist and a
leader in my community. Sister
Ncube literally raised all twelve
siblings of the Mkhize family. It
was more as a mother that I learnt
of her nurturing instincts when
she infused us into the Ncube
family as her own and made of
us a tightly-knit entourage of
brothers and sisters. This after
my parents had passed away
and when I was an emotionally
scarred, naive twelve-year old
growing up in the rough and
impoverished community of
Kagiso.
She knew my parents after
working with my mother at a
local Day Care Centre that she
had initiated from the Catholic
School. At this time I was a
learner at the St. Peters Catholic
School in the then West Rand and
being orphaned at that age left
us completely vulnerable. Sister
Bernard wrapped us under her
motherly wing, broke bread for
all of us, dressed our emotional
scars and provided a sanctuary
for our growth and development.
As my teacher she did
more than impart academic
knowledge by raising our moral
consciousness and instilling an
insatiable appetite for defying
traditionalist and patriarchal
belief systems that confined our
feminine role as subservient,
quiet and child-bearing family
executive managers only.
She was a scholar of
Contextual Theology, a product
of Companions Catholic Order
from Roma College in Lesotho.
Our school where Sister Ncube
was an educator, was a bastion
of personal and leadership
development where everything
from mastery of school matters
to becoming a balanced young
woman was central to our
curriculum.
She introduced me to the
BIDDING FAREWELL TO A SAINT … Premier Nomvula Mokonyane delivered an impassioned
tribute to her late mentor and struggle activist, Sister Bernard Ncube.
Photograph: Mandla Nkosi
Young
Christian
Student
movement where both religion
and politics were juxtaposed
to groom us into activists that
entered student politics fearlessly
and without any prejudice by
gender. After all, Sister Bernard
Ncube had already entered the
political arena as a founder
member of the Federation of
Transvaal Women, (FEDTRAW)
an organization over which she
became its first president in 1984.
The organisation’s Executive
comprised of Albertina Sisuslu,
Rita Ndzanga, Francis Baard,
Maniben Sita with Helen Joseph
and Winnie Mandela as patrons.
Sister Ncube together and
those she groomed experienced
the wrath of the apartheid regime
and were frequently imprisoned.
She was charged with sedition
with twelve other members
of the Krugersdorp Residence
Association in 1987 and detained
six times during the Emergency
Regulations of June 1986. I was
one of the detainees.
Looking at her from a
distance, one would mistake her
quiet demeanour for a subdued
and timid individual but for
me, who had a deep and close
encounter, I experienced a fighter,
a disciplinarian, a genuine and
brave revolutionary. She never
sought glamour or fame but
focused on executing dangerous
missions of the banned African
National Congress.
It is for such reasons and many
others that I mourn her passing
as one of her children and not as
a product of her political school
and social steadfastness. I mourn
her because she gave me freedom
of choice. Never did she insist
on us converting to Companion
Catholic Order or become Nuns
but she provided us space and
encouraged us to serve the
ordinary citizens. She taught us
to hold firm on our convictions
and never trod God’s world with
timidity. She moulded us into
women and women in leadership.
May I therefore join millions
of South Africans in expressing
my deepest condolences on behalf
of the Mkhize and Mokonyane
families, the people of Gauteng
and South Africa.
Mokonyane is the Premier of
Gauteng, this is an edited version of
her farewell speech to Sister Ncube.
The full speech can be read at www.
gautengonline.gov.za
From newspaper delivery man to internationally-acclaimed gold medallist
It is often said that success does not come overnight. It
requires patience, discipline, hard work and sacrifice.
That is how the 2012 London Olympics rowing gold
medallist Sizwe Ndlovu explained his secret to
success.
Melitah Madiba
The
thirty-two
year-old
Ndlovu, who comes from humble
beginnings, told Gauteng News
that his journey to the top was not
all rosy.
“For me to be where I am
today I had to overcome a lot
of hurdles, though at some point
I felt like throwing in the towel, I
chose to soldier on in pursuit of
my dreams.
“Growing up I did not have it
easy, it was tough. My father was
unemployed whereas my mother
kept the wolf from the door by
doing menial jobs for us to get by.
“As a result of our plight,
I missed out on playing in the
streets with other kids as I had
to work to augment my mother’s
meagre earnings.
“Due to that I was a newspaper
delivery man at the tender age of
16 in a bid to aid my mother’s
lowly income. Those were tough
times,” recalled Ndlovu with
sadness written all over his face.
But he soon lightens up as he
takes us through his 13-year-rowing
career.
“I was introduced to rowing
in high school by my mentor, Tom
Price, in 1997. Before I settled
for rowing I had participated in
different sporting codes including
swimming and water polo,” he said.
He explained that he chose
rowing as he found it to be very
interesting but also because he
wanted to change stereotypes
around the sport.
His decision to follow the sport
was rewarded in 1998 when he
was sent to Holland for a rowing
development programme.
“That was an eye-opener for
me and it gave me more courage to
pursue the sport. In 2001 together
with other rowing members we
went to championships in Austria
where we modestly came seventh.
“But it was later in Italy where
MULTI-SKILLED … Gauteng’s Olympic golden boy,
Sizwe Ndlovu, is not just a
winner at the Olympics. The
32-year old is also an avid
biker and a police reservist.
Photograph: Adziliwi
Nematandani
we really shone and won our firstever international gold medal.
“That for me was a breakthrough
and from then on I set my sights on
winning the Olympics,” he said
proudly.
“Though it was hard juggling
studies, training and working as I
needed to make money to get me
by, somehow I managed.
“As a rower one needs to
practice every day, most of the
time you don’t have weekend offs
and that requires alot of discipline
and sacrifice,” emphasised the
University of Johannesburg Sport
Management graduate.
Unfortunately for him, whilst still
basking in the glory of his upward
spiralling career, he lost his parents
in a space of one year.
“It was hard not having them
to meet me at the airport as it had
always been the case whenever I
came back from my competitions.
But my sister has been a pillar of my
strength, taking the parental role,”
said Ndlovu.
He added that another
setback for him was when he was
diagnosed with asthma in 2001
but that did nothing to deter him
in his quest to becoming a rowing
champion.
Besides spending most of his
time paddling away in the waters,
Ndlovu also doubles up as a police
reservist.
“I have been volunteering
my services as a police reservist
since 2004 and started off at the
Mondeor SAPS and later moved
to the Johannesburg Flying Squad
and the Rapid Response team.
I took a break to prepare for the
Olympics and now that we are
done, I am looking forward to
returning to duty,” he said.
The humble Ndlovu, who at the
moment cruises around the province
with his motorbike, said that his
vision for Gauteng 2055 was for
the province to have an integrated
seamless transport system.
He added that his wish was for
the private sector and government
to join hands in building more
sports academies in the province
as he believed they will go a long
way in assisting budding athletes,
especially those that would like to
follow in his rowing footsteps.
SEPTEMBER 2012
Gauteng Paralympians take London by storm
Since the start of the Paralympics in London last month, South African Paralympians
have done wonders in different sporting codes with Gauteng’s athletes proving to the
world that the province is indeed the “Home of Champions”.
Thembisa Shologu
Among the shining stars was
Johannesburg-based Natalie du
Toit who paved the way when
she bagged the country’s first
gold medal in the women’s 100
metres butterfly. Du Toit was
again at it in the women’s 400m
S9 freestyle, scooping gold for
the country.
She has won three gold
medals
at
these
Games.
Throughout her career at the
Paralympic Games, du Toit has
bagged 15 medals - 13 of which
are gold.
Team South Africa ended the
games on eighteenth position
overall on the medals table with
29 medals (8 Gold, 12 Silver, 9
bronze).
It
was
in
swimming
where Shireen Sapiro from
Krugersdorp won bronze in the
100m backstroke, showing that
Gauteng is still flooded with
talent in the pool. The 21-year-old
Sapiro has in the last two years
been a defending champion after
she had won in Beijing.
Besides winning silver in
the 200m race, the inspirational
Blade Runner, Oscar Pistorius,
“Any medal here
at the Paralympics
is well-earned but
to win gold and in
world record time is
something special. “
SOWETO’S PRIDE …Johannesburg’s Samkelo Radebe receives a R100 000 cheque from Sport and Recreation Deputy Minister, Gert Oosthuizen and
South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee’s Gideon Sam at the OR Tambo International Airport following his stunning performance
at the 2012 London Paralympics.
Photograph: GCIS
together with his relay team,
won a gold medal in the men’s
T43-44 4×100-metre track in a
world record time.
Except for Arnu Fourie,
this winning team consists of
Gautengers Samkelo Radebe;
Zivan Smith, and Pistorius. Their
gold medal took the country’s
medal tally to 18.
SASCOC Chief Executive
Officer, Tubby Reddy, welcomed
the new additions to the medals
haul.
Reddy said: “Any medal here
at the Paralympics is well-earned
but to win gold and in world
record time is something special.
“We take our hats off as a
nation to the team of Samkelo
Radebe, Zivan Smith, Arnu
Fourie and Oscar Pistorius.”
Sadly SA’s golden girl,
Kgothatso Montjane, did not do
well in the women’s wheelchair
tennis
singles,
succumbing
in two sets (6-2, 6-2) to Jiske
Griffioen of the Netherlands.
Wheelchair Tennis South
Africa (WTSA) Bianca Morkel
said:
“Montjane played her first
game against Lola Ochoa Ribes
from Spain and won her match
in straight sets 7-5, 6-2.
“Ranked 10th in the world
‘KG’ faced the world’s number
3 Jiske Griffioen from the
Netherlands in the second match
and lost 6-2, 6-2. We are proud
of her achievements and know
that she will go from strength to
strength.”
thembisa.shologu@gauteng.gov.za
Public servants urged to live healthily
According to the Discovery Health Company
Index (DHCI) 2012, high blood pressure and high
cholesterol are the most prevalent chronic conditions
of lifestyle among employees in South Africa and
at least 14-percent of employees were admitted to
hospital in the past 12 months.
ADZILIWI NEMATANDANI
This is partly the reason the
Gauteng Provincial Government
(GPG) in association with the
Government Employees Medical
Scheme (GEMS) launched the
GPG League, Spiritual Wellness,
HIV Counselling and Testing
Campaign.
Delivering a keynote address
at the launch, MEC for Sport,
Arts, Culture and Recreation
(SACR) Lebogang Maile said
about 79% of employees had
four or more clinical risk factors
– from smoking, high alcohol
intake, stress, low physical
activities, poor diet leading to
chronic illnesses.
Maile was speaking on
behalf of Finance MEC, Mandla
Nkomfe whose department was
the main organiser of the event.
Appreciating
the
health
screening offered by GEMS, Maile
said the GPG had experienced
unnecessary early deaths from
HIV and TB. This was clear from
statistics taken between 2009 to
2012 March showing that more
than 2 600 employees died in
Gauteng from the two illnesses.
“For that reason the Gauteng
Workplace Programme, coordinated by the Finance
Department, has committed to
mobilise 100% employees to test
for HIV by 2016,” said Maile.
The Finance Department, in
partnership with the provincial
Department of Health, will
communicate
the
rolling
schedule for other testing dates.
Currently there are over 164
000 personnel in the Gauteng
Provincial Government.
GEMS
Communications
Executive, Liziwe Nkonyana,
encouraged the GPG employees
to
take
health
screening
seriously.
“By testing and knowing
your status early, you give us
an opportunity to point you to
the right direction in terms of
healthy living; helping you live
longer,” said Nkonyana.
She said GEMS’ wanted to
assist government employees get
PRACTICE WHAT YOU PREACH … Sport MEC, Lebogang Maile, showed public officials how
one can keep healthy through participating in sporting activities.
Photograph: Adziliwi Nematandani
healthy so that service delivery
was not affected.
Nkonyana encouraged all
government employees to join
GEMS since the government
contributed 100% to the scheme,
which meant that even the
lowest earning employees can
afford the scheme.
Besides the speeches, the day
was marked by indoor soccer and
netball. MEC Maile also took to
the field of play.
For more information GEMS can
be contacted at 0860 00 4367 or visit
www.gems.gov.za